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My yard is a disaster!  Colorful, blooming flowers are gone.  Tall ornamental grasses are now short, green spikes leaving only a hint of the beauty that once adorned my backyard.  So many summer afternoons my family played baseball there, but now a huge digger truck sits in the middle of small mountains of dirt.

I think sometimes we all feel on the inside what my backyard looks like right now.  We enjoyed the happy times of yesterday and we’re not sure what is going on today.

One of the benefits of being in children’s ministry is that I get to study lessons throughout the week before teaching the kids.  This week I got to share the true story of David and Goliath.  During the time that I was preparing I happened to speak with many people who were walking through difficult times.  Some were going through things that no one should ever have to endure.  As I read about David I noticed something.

David was taking care of his dad’s sheep when his dad sent him to the battlefield to check on his brothers.  When he arrived he found giant Goliath taunting the Israelite army and making fun of their God.  David could have run and hid along with everyone else, but he didn’t.  He remembered how God had helped him in the past, even killing a lion and a bear.  David knew that God would help him win the victory over Goliath.  And he ran right toward Goliath.  You know the rest of the story.  David remembered that God is always good and he counted on God for courage.  A good lesson for all of us.

God didn’t put Goliath in the valley that day and David didn’t cause that trouble, but David knew God would help him deal with it.  Later David wrote Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee,” (NASB).  This battle that David fought against Goliath helped to prepare him and the Israelites for later becoming the king of Israel and it brought glory to God.

As we walk through difficult times, we can count on God to be with us and help us, just like David did.  God can even use those times to prepare us for something. He is never caught by surprise and He has good plans for us.

So my yard is a disaster area right now, but soon it will be beautiful again.  Just different.  It will never be the same.  It is currently being prepared for a pool where someday we will swim, splash and play.  New memories will be made, but we will never forget those days we played baseball right in that spot with frisbee bases and plastic balls.  Yes, those were good times.  But better days are ahead.  Eventually the digger truck will leave.  The grass will be replaced, cement will be poured and new flowers will be planted.  And this awful mess will be a distant memory.  And we will swim.

Top 10: You Know You’re in Children’s Ministry When…

10.  Songs by bands like Hillsong Kids, Go Fish and PureNRG are on your iPod.  And you enjoy listening to them.

9.  You have taken pictures of Sunday school hallways in other churches with your cell phone.

8.  You have a shelf in your home full of things like bubbles, Silly String, sand, rocks and PlayDo.  (And you have no young children in your home.)

7.  You clean your storage shelves, but you can’t get rid of things like old suit coats, robes and empty wrapping paper rolls because you want to use them for lessons.

6.  You visit a church and get excited about their Children’s Ministry, even though all of your own children are too old to attend those classes.

5.  You look at things like toys and snacks and immediately think of object lessons for your Sunday school kids.

4.  One of your favorite Bible translations is NIrV.

3.  Everywhere you go – the grocery store, the orthodontist, the mall, … – you run into children you know.

2.  You search for something in your desk and find thank you notes from parents and other volunteers and drawings from children who used to be in your classes.

1.  You have influenced a child to love Jesus for today, tomorrow and eternity!

YOU Can Make A Difference!

I recently had the opportunity to be a part of a short radio program to help spread the word about Good News Club, a ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship.  This is my seventh year to be involved with Good News Club and I am amazed at how effective this program is in reaching children with the Gospel.  Many children will never go to a Bible-teaching church, but they do go to public schools.  We go into the schools and clearly present the Gospel in fun ways that keep the kids coming back week after week.

During club time we teach great Bible lessons, sing fun songs, play Bible verse games and do a lot of fun stuff!  The kids have a great time while they hear biblical truth and have it applied to their lives right where they are.  One of my favorite things is watching their faces as I teach the Bible lessons.  They really pay attention and many children have put their trust in Jesus.  The kids in my club love to borrow our children’s Bibles.  They get so excited to have their turn to read the Bible at home!

I enjoy being part of a group that loves God and loves kids, but also, I am part of something way bigger than myself.  Through Good News Club, we are making a difference in the lives of children – not just for today, but for tomorrow and for eternity!

YOU also can make a difference!

If you’re reading this, you can help a child learn a Bible verse.  Can you pour a cup of water?  You could serve a snack to a child.  Like to tell stories?  You could tell children true stories from the Bible!  Contact your local CEF office today to get involved with Good News Club and start making a difference in the lives of children!